On 17th November off the coast of Kenya, to the north east of Mombasa, the tanker Sirius Star, belonging to the Saudi oil company Aramco, was hijacked. The ship was sailing from Saudi Arabia to the United States. The Polish embassy in the United Arab Emirates has received confirmation from Vela International Marine, the marine company operating vessels for Armaco, that there are two Polish citizens on board the ship – a captain and a technical officer.

        On 13-14 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, paid an official visit to Prague. The talks with the Czech Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg and Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Vondra, responsible in the Czech government for European affairs, as well as the meeting with President Vaclav Klaus, were conducted in the context of Czech preparations for the upcoming take-over of the European Union presidency.

        The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that on 1 January 2009 the rules for Polish citizens travelling to Canada without a visa change. Only people holding biometric passports (issued since 28 August 2006) can take advantage of visa-free travel.

        In connection with the possibility of terrorist attacks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests that Polish citizens limit travel to Ethiopia to a necessary minimum. In the event that travelling to Ethiopian is necessary, particular care is recommended while staying in the country and avoiding public places such as public transport, petrol stations, markets and large gatherings is also recommended. 

        On 11th  November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, met with the President of the Polish American Congress (PAC) Frank Spula. The subject of the talks were the recent US presidential elections. The issue of strengthening the presence of the Polish community in American political life, at the local, state and federal level, was discussed.

        The Norwegian police and the Polish consulate have opened a telephone line (in Polish language) for the families of victims: 0047 32 80 55 55. The families of victims and those who are missing can obtain information at this number. The line is open today in the hours 9.00 – 15.00, and will also be open tomorrow. It is a joint police and consulate telephone line intended exclusively for families of the fire’s victims.

        The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a point of principle, does not comment on individual speeches made by members of parliament on the assumption that they have the right to unhindered freedom of speech. This time, however, we feel that we have a duty, as the department responsible for Poland’s external relations, to express disapproval for comments made by MP Artur Górski (PiS) during the 28th session of the Sejm.

        The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, is leading the Polish delegation during the meeting of the European Union General Affairs & External Relations Council on 10th November in Brussels. Also taking part in the meeting are defence ministers and EU development ministers.

        Operations at the site of the fire in the building at 36 Stasjonsgata Street in N-3048 Drammen have been continuing the whole day. The ruins of the building have been made safe by the emergency services. Further steps to find and identify the victims and to establish the cause of the fire will be taken tomorrow. Accommodation has been provided for the 13 people that have been rescued.

        In connection with the approaching Independence Day national holiday, on 7 November in MFA Main Building, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, performed a presentation of exhibits illustrating the tradition of Polish diplomacy.

        In connection with the worsening sanitary situation in Harare, the outbreak of cholera in the city (the worst affected districts are: Budiriro, Msasa Park, Haig Park, Greendale, Ballantyne Park, Chikurubi, Glen Lorne, Mbare and the outlying towns of Chitungwiza i Ruwa) as well as recorded fatalities due to the illness, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Polish citizens do not travel to regions affected by the epidemic, and while staying in the country apply caution as well as avoid threatened regions where possible.

        I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Senator Barrack Obama for the results he achieved in the elections. I also wish the President-elect luck and success in carrying out his plans and intentions in United States foreign policy, which will allow the USA to strengthen its leadership among democratic countries.      

        On 3 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, participated in the EU meeting of Foreign Ministers in Marseille.

        On 30 October 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, met with the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al-Ghurair, along with an 8-person parliamentary delegation accompanying him. The meeting was organised as part of Speaker Al-Ghurair’s visit to Poland at the invitation of Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz.

        The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hereby gives notice that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has taken a further decision to reduce the consular fee for accepting and reviewing applications for issuing visas valid within the Republic of Poland for Belarusian citizens. The first decision to reduce the visa fee to 35 euro was taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in December 2007. The generally applicable fee, meanwhile, is 60 euro.